Thousands of Adoptable Pets Seek a Home for the Holidays and Beyond

Give the Gift of Love by Celebrating PetSmart Charities™ of Canada National Adoption Weekend in all PetSmart® Stores, November 13-15

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - The holidays remind us of the things we're thankful for, and for those with adopted pets, their furry friends top the list. If you're looking to adopt this holiday season, you're in luck: thousands of loving pets are waiting to find a forever home during PetSmart Charities of Canada National Adoption Weekend, Nov. 13-15 – just in time for the holidays – at PetSmart stores across the country.

Local adoption partners work with PetSmart Charities of Canada, along with PetSmart's support, to help potential adopters find their perfect match and give adopted pets their own "Gotcha Day" – the day they find their forever homes.

"The holidays are a wonderful time to add a new member to your family and adopting a pet is a memorable, full and rich way to save a life," said John DeFranco, president, PetSmart Charities of Canada.  "We are proud to work with PetSmart to help pet parents through the adoption journey – from finding their new pet during our National Adoption Weekend to serving as a trusted partner as families transition and welcome the pets into the home."

To help adopters make an easy transition into the home with their newly adopted pet this holiday season, PetSmart has developed the top five helpful tips.

1. Give your pet a safe space: The holidays are a social time of year, but not all visits are welcome for pets just learning their way around a new home. When you're expecting visitors, your pet may be happier and safer in a space of his or her own. Make sure to leave treats, toys and other activities with your pet to keep him or her occupied and engaged.  It's best to monitor your pet when providing certain toys for their chewing pleasure.   
2. Watch out for holiday décor: The festive accents of the season are beautiful, but that very attraction can be dangerous for pets. Keep an eye out for how your new pet reacts to your holiday decorations and adjust accordingly. Some décor can be placed high up out of pets reach, and be extra careful with candles or other open flames. Also, remember that some plants often used as holiday décor can have leaves, berries or sap that are dangerous for pets, so it is best to opt for artificial versions when pets are being introduced into the home for the first time.
3. Consider holiday treats: Sweet treats are hard to resist during the holidays, and those aromas are just as appealing to pets. Unfortunately, many holiday treats are not safe for pets so be sure you're taking extra precaution not to leave out human treats your pet could eat (or reach) by accident. Consider stocking up on pet-friendly treats so that you can offer pets something festive during the season.
4. Be on the look-out for colder temperatures: In many areas of the country, winter is just weeks away. Make sure you're monitoring your new pet's time outside and on walks so he or she does not get too cold.
5. Maintain a routine: It's important to maintain a routine for new pets, especially during the holidays when there are plenty of family gatherings and celebrations. A routine will help reinforce good behavior around potty training, meal time and bedtime.

How to Give a Forever Home for the Holidays

Where:	PetSmart stores across the country
When:	Fri., Nov. 13 and Sat., Nov. 14, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
	Sun., Nov. 15, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Contact:	Find the PetSmart store nearest you at http://www.petsmart.ca/ or call 1-877-473-8762.
Share:	Use #adoptlove and #gotchaday to share pictures of your newly adopted pets!

Adopt a Pet, Save a Life
Each year about 7 million pets enter shelters across North America and some 3 million healthy, adoptable pets are euthanized. To help, PetSmart teams up with PetSmart Charities and PetSmart Charities of Canada to run National Adoption Weekends four times a year. On average, some 15,000 pets find forever homes during these weekend events. And, more than 6 million pets have found homes through PetSmart Charities adoption programs since 1994. PetSmart Charities and PetSmart help save more than 1,000 pets a day with one pet adopted every minute a PetSmart store is open.

As a nonprofit, PetSmart Charities of Canada depends on donations to offer special events like this one. A donation of just $25 helps save a pet's life through adoption. You can donate online or via phone at 1-800-745-9460.

Join the Conversation
You can follow PetSmart Charities and PetSmart on Facebook throughout National Adoption Weekend at www.facebook.com/PetSmartCharities and www.facebook.com/PetSmart. Or, talk with us on Twitter at @PetSmartChariTs and @PetSmart and on Instagram by following the hashtags #adoptlove and #gotchaday.

ABOUT PETSMART CANADA
In Canada, PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we believe pets make us better people. That's why we create more moments for people to be inspired by pets. This mission impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates, and how we give back to our communities. We employ approximately 3,500 associates and operate 112 pet stores across Canada with 7 operating in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, and pet adoption services in-store.  Our portfolio of digital resources for pet parents – including PetSmart.ca , Pet360.com and petMD.com – offers the most comprehensive online pet supplies and pet care information in North America. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities™ of Canada, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 180,000 pets since 1999.  In addition, PetSmart supports organizations that make communities a better place to call home through our philanthropy program, PetSmart Gives Back™. By giving back to the communities where we live and work, PetSmart not only celebrates the power of pets to enrich people's lives—we live it.

Find PetSmart on Facebook www.facebook.com/PetSmart  
See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart

About PetSmart Charities™ of Canada:
PetSmart Charities of Canada is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. Nearly 20,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. A leading funder of animal welfare, PetSmart Charities of Canada has granted more than $7 million to help pets in need, with a focus on spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered charity, independent from PetSmart, Inc.

SOURCE PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc.

Image with caption: "PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc. (CNW Group/PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151112_C7782_PHOTO_EN_544260.jpg

Image with caption: "PetSmart Canada (CNW Group/PetSmart Charities of Canada, Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151112_C7782_PHOTO_EN_544262.jpg

Gabriella Siciliano, GolinHarris for PetSmart Charities of Canada, [email protected], 416-642-7892